Owner Operator Truck Driver Jobs in Arlington, TX
Owner operators based in Arlington sit within easy reach of the intermodal ramps in Wilmer and north Fort Worth and the freight of the Great Southwest Industrial District. Schneider advertises average earnings of $125,000 to $218,000 for Dallas-area dray owner-operators. Here are the current openings, then who contracts owner operators and how to start.
Current owner operator Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Owner Operator Work in Arlington
Arlington's position between I-20 and I-30, with SH 360 running north to DFW Airport, puts an owner operator within an hour of most of the metro's container yards. Much of the steady contract work for single-truck owners in DFW is drayage: pulling containers between rail ramps, warehouses and distribution centers. Carriers with terminals in Wilmer on the south side of Dallas and in Haslet on US 287 near north Fort Worth lease on owner operators for that local and regional freight, and specialized carriers in north Fort Worth contract owner operators for heavy haul.
The choice most new owners face here is between leasing onto a carrier's authority, which brings freight, fuel discounts and insurance programs, and running under your own federal operating authority, which brings full control and full risk. Drayage contracts usually expect you to live near the ramp, so a home base in east or south Arlington keeps deadhead miles low.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Owner Operator Truck Drivers
These carriers are contracting owner operators for DFW freight on their own sites:
- Schneider - contracts solo intermodal dray owner-operators who live within 50 miles of Dallas, with fuel, tire and insurance discounts.
- IMC Logistics - the intermodal drayage carrier recruits owner operators and company drivers for its Wilmer and Haslet terminals.
- Dunavant Logistics - the Wilmer terminal recruits owner operators for year-round drayage with weekly settlements and fuel card discounts.
- Lone Star Transportation - the north Fort Worth heavy haul carrier pays owner operators up to 75% of line haul.
- Unisco - the logistics company contracts owner operators and motor carriers with their own trucks for Dallas freight.
Owner Operator Truck Driver Salaries in Arlington
- Before you buy: Arlington-area company CDL-A jobs post about $19 to $29 an hour, and the BLS national median for heavy truck drivers is $58,640 a year (May 2025).
- Leased-on drayage: Schneider advertises average earnings of $125,000 to $218,000 a year for Dallas-area dray owner-operators, before truck and operating costs.
- Specialized freight: heavy haul carriers such as Lone Star Transportation pay owner operators up to 75% of line haul revenue.
These are estimates of revenue, not take-home pay. What you keep depends on fuel, truck payments, maintenance, insurance, permits and taxes, plus how many empty miles you run. Carrier fuel surcharge programs, discount networks and steady lanes are what separate a profitable truck from a struggling one.
How to Become an Owner Operator Truck Driver in Arlington
Start with a Texas Class A CDL from the Texas Department of Public Safety and at least 6 to 24 months of verifiable experience; Schneider asks for 6 months, while Dunavant asks for 15 months in the last 3 years. Leased-on owners run under the carrier's authority. Running on your own means a USDOT number and operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, registered through its Motus system since May 2026, plus apportioned (IRP) plates from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and an IFTA license from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Intrastate carriers also need a TxDMV Certificate number. Tarrant County College offers CDL Driver training through its Adult Education and Literacy program, and logistics coursework at the Hadley Center of Excellence on its Northwest campus.
What the Job Involves
Owner operators do everything a company driver does, plus run a small business. On the road that means inspections, securement, safe driving and electronic logging. Off the road it means choosing loads, negotiating rates, planning fuel stops, scheduling maintenance, keeping insurance current, filing fuel tax reports and tracking every expense.
Skills Employers Look For
- Class A CDL with a clean safety record and verifiable experience
- A compliant truck that meets the carrier's age and engine rules
- Budgeting, bookkeeping and cost control
- Rate negotiation and load selection
- Hours-of-service, IFTA and DOT compliance
- TWIC card for port and some intermodal work
Career Path and Advancement
Most Arlington owner operators start as company drivers, often on local CDL routes, then lease a truck or buy one and lease onto a drayage or regional carrier serving the Wilmer and Haslet ramps. With a few profitable years, some move to specialized freight such as heavy haul for a higher share of revenue, take out their own operating authority, or add a second truck and hire a driver.
Related Careers in Arlington
If running your own truck interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do owner operators make in Arlington?
Revenue varies widely. Schneider advertises average earnings of $125,000 to $218,000 a year for Dallas-area dray owner-operators, and heavy haul carriers pay up to 75% of line haul. Your take-home is what is left after fuel, truck payments, insurance and maintenance.
Do I need my own authority to be an owner operator?
No. Most new owner operators lease onto a carrier and run under its authority, which gives you freight and discount programs. Getting your own authority means registering with the FMCSA through Motus, carrying your own insurance and finding your own freight.
How much experience do I need before going owner operator?
DFW carriers ask for anywhere from 6 months to 2 years of verifiable Class A experience. Schneider asks for 6 months, and Dunavant asks for 15 months within the last 3 years, so plan on at least a year as a company driver first.
Do I need a TWIC card for drayage work near Arlington?
Many drayage carriers require or prefer one. Schneider lists a TWIC card as a requirement for its Dallas intermodal owner-operators, and Dunavant prefers it in port cities, so getting one early widens your options.
Which Texas agencies handle owner operator paperwork?
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles handles apportioned IRP registration and the TxDMV Certificate number for intrastate carriers. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts issues IFTA fuel tax licenses, and the FMCSA issues USDOT numbers and operating authority.
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